6 Health and Wellness Tips for Kids in Toronto

You're never too young to start thinking about health. Here are six great tips and tools for kids' wellness in Toronto.

Regroup with a visit to Zen Beginnings. This midtown haven, offering holistic-based health and wellness for the entire family, has programs for babes, toddlers and tired parents. Try Yoga and Arts Camp or Kiddie/Kids Yoga classes, for ages from 4 to 11. It's also the only Toronto centre currently offering Tykes Itsy Bitsy Yoga, a renowned developmentally-centered yoga practice for toddlers 21 months to 4 years old.

A child's first dental visit should occur within six months of the eruption of the first tooth. You can expect the dentist to examine the child's teeth (or tooth) and acquaint you with what to expect developmentally in your child's mouth, how to care for their teeth and how to prevent problems. Around the age of four, start visiting the dentist semi-annually (parents should start letting their child brush on their own at this age as well). See your family dentist for more tips and tricks.

Getting head lice has nothing to do with cleanliness (or lack thereof), economic status or race. Anyone can get head lice—just like anyone can get a cold. However, the best way to avoid getting them is to avoid head-to-head contact, sharing hair items like hats or brushes, or sleeping or placing your head on the areas where an infested person has laid their head. If your child does catch them, the only way to ensure complete nit removal is to pick them out one by one. Nothing that is topically applied kills lice eggs.

Considered the ‘pioneer' of kids' yoga in Toronto, YogaBuds has been successfully teaching kids' ages 5–14 how to ‘downward dog' since 1994. Director Temmi Ungerman Sears uses her 30 years of experience to teach different posture and breathing exercises while incorporating fun activities and songs to keep children entertained and rejuvenated. Located near Bathurst and Eglinton, the studio is exquisite yet comfortable, offering a large area for exercise and a full kitchen for parents to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee.

Leave it to another mom to solve the age old dilemma of making sure our kids get a decent haircut. It's called Haircuts on Wheels and it's the brainchild of Kimberly Irwin, mom of three. Bringing her skills to homes makes sense because kids are happier in their own environment. They can sit up and watch TV, perch themselves in a familiar high chair and surround themselves with favourite toys. Mom can get the dinner ready or watch older and younger siblings while one child is getting snipped.

Take a deep breath and join in the relaxing mantra at Breathe Yoga Studio, located steps away from Runnymede subway station. Offering kids' and family yoga, the studio features spacious light-filled rooms and patient, easy-to-follow instructors who make the experience both fun and relaxing at the same time.